Basic Needs, Education, Income, Health – The building blocks of a successful life.

United Way of the Lowcountry (UWLC) believes that everyone is entitled to basic needs, a quality education, a family- sustaining income and good health. And we’re not alone. Our focus on these priority areas were reinforced by the feedback we received from YOU, the community, through our open community conversations.

Through our funding, we work to ensure sure people get the support services they need right now, while simultaneously addressing the root causes of key issues – that’s how we create true community impact. We know that by improving education for all children, we’re setting them on the path to high school graduation and college success. We know that those children will go on to hold skilled jobs and be financially equipped to support their families. We know that good health is directly linked to a successful life.

Most importantly, we realize that when we make sure a family’s basic needs are met, and when we improve education, income and health at a community level, we all benefit.

Community Impact Process

For the upcoming funding cycle (2018-2020), UWLC is currently accepting applications from all 501(c)(3) health and human service organizations serving Beaufort and Jasper Counties who have a role to play in helping to address the priority area of Education and Health.

This is an open application process that funds programs in two-year cycles, with a 15% reduction in the second year allocation amount. This step down funding strategy was employed so that programs do not become dependent on United Way grant funding for service provision, and to ensure that programs have a sustainability plan in place. All programs requesting funding MUST be able to track data using a pre-approved list of standard Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) found below.

Pre-Qualification Phase (Education and Health Priority Areas)

Agencies and organizations interested in applying to United Way of the Lowcountry, Inc. (UWLC) for funding must first meet eligibility criteria for funding through the Pre-qualification phase. This phase begins May 1, 2017 and remains open until 11:59 pm on June 15, 2017. Those interested in applying must attend one of the five training dates below:

May 2nd from 3:00 – 5:00 pm

May 4th from 9:00 – 11:00 am

May 10th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm

May 15th from 3:00 – 5:00 pm

May 25th from 9:00 – 11:00 am

*This training is MANDATORY and agencies will be provided access to the online software once training has been attended.

The mandatory training will take place at the United Way of the Lowcountry office in Beaufort, which is located at 1277 Ribaut Road. Seating is limited and applicants should RSVP by calling the United Way of the Lowcountry office at 843.982.3040.

This training will provide agencies/organizations with the information necessary to be competitive in United Way of the Lowcountry’s Community Impact Funding Process. It also provides the agency/organizations with an opportunity to ask questions about the process or specific requirements. In preparation, we ask that each agency/ organization representative download the Pre-qualification checklist and review requirements before the mandatory training and bring specific questions with them.

Application Phase

If the organization is eligible to receive funding, based on the Pre-qualification phase, the organization will have from July 1st –August 15th to complete the application and submit. The applicants who score the highest within each priority area will be invited into the funding process. The applications will be evaluated by community volunteers using established investment criteria. Using these criteria, volunteers provide the critical guidance needed to invest in programs that provide quality services and community partners that maintain the highest levels of accountability and transparency.

As stated above, all programs requesting funding MUST be able to track data using a pre-approved list of standard Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s).